Across, up, down, home

Five Round Britain places to find today made all the more interesting as I'm doing it old school with map and paper. Sat nav no good as its still got Lux/Germany/ Belgium maps on it from last trip. I forgot to put the uk maps back on it!!!

I found my way east to the sea, past Torness nuclear power station (its painted all white and virtually on the A1) and follow the coast to North Berwick. Sea is like a mill pond, Bass rock looking spectacular but plenty of day trippers to make it quite busy.

They've got a pretty bad bird fouling problem on that rock

 

 Onto Dalkeith and I get confused again around the new roads and roadworks ( happened before last time I was here) Anyhow, landmark located and on to Peebles and Glentress down the A6094/701. Good to be back on relatively quite scenic roads again and Selkirk next. Bike has developed a bit of a misfire on acceleration and is feeling a bit lumpy.

 

A duff spark plug would you believe.

I carry a spare coil stick so I change the left hand one. Little bit of improvement but I'm suspecting its a spark plug. Carry spare plugs as well so change the LH and all is well again. Put the original coil stick back in to confirm and still ok. Thats the cheap fix then - £4 plug instead of a £65 coil stick. Cant be arsed to mess about anymore and crack on for home again down the A68. Rest of trip is eminently forgettable as it involves the A1.

Just under 700 miles for the trip, and a bit more of the borders discovered.

Ghost town

A walk into Jedburgh for a few beers. Initial impression is 'where is everybody'?

Into the Belter Bar and I'm disturbing the barman at his crossword but he's pleased to see me anyhow. Even he was asking why the town was quiet. Anyhow, supp up and have a wander. Come across The Canon, and there's a few regulars in so a bit more lively and it states to fill up. All talk about the World Cup and who's got an Italian flag for Saturday and who knows how to swear in Italian. Seriously, someone offers to bring in Italian phrase book so they could be honarary Italians for the night!!

The Canon

Last time we were in Jedburgh we stumbled across the Railway Tavern. What a gem, its still there, an old style boozer no bigger than your average sitting room, vinyl & formica with a cathode ray TV. Should have a preservation order on it. Couple in there and I'm done for the night.

Border Raid

Couple of days in the Scottish borders on Round Britain duty!! There's worse ways to spend a few days . Was originally planning a few days in Wales but the weather forecast looked better up north. One of the best ways to travel to Scotland is up the A68 and over Carter Bar. Today the roads were empty so a good time was had. Just outside Toft Hill there's the A68 cafe and its a lunchtime stop to fill up on steak pie & mash. Great home cooking and now added to the list of "stops of choice". 

I'd missed alot of the A1 coming up as I turned off just after York and came along via Thirsk, Northallerton and Darlington. Then towards Barnard Castle and some RBR stuff, then cross country to West Auckland and the A68 to Jedburgh where I'm stopping tonight.

Commando MOT pass

Norton passes mot with no problems. Now to do battle with the DVLA about change to Historic Vehicle for £0 road tax